Ralph Webster's The Other Mrs. Samson intricately weaves a captivating narrative that spans decades and continents, delving into the lives of two remarkable women, Hilda and Katie, whose destinies become entwined by their shared love for the enigmatic Dr. Josef Samson. From the opulence of turn-of-the-century San Francisco to the tumultuous events of the twentieth century, their journeys unfold against the backdrop of history's most pivotal moments.

The novel's rich historical backdrop serves as a compelling canvas for the exploration of themes such as love, resilience, and the enduring human spirit in the face of adversity. Webster's vivid storytelling captures the essence of each era, transporting readers from the bustling streets of San Francisco to the devastation of war-torn Berlin and the uncertainties of New York City, painting a vivid tapestry of the characters' trials and triumphs.

The author's meticulous attention to detail and intricate character development contribute to a narrative that resonates with authenticity and emotional depth. The complex interplay of relationships and the exploration of shared secrets and enduring connections add depth to the storyline, creating a poignant and engaging reading experience.

While the novel adeptly captures the essence of each era and the intricacies of the characters' lives, a slight deduction from a perfect rating is attributed to certain pacing elements that could have been further streamlined to maintain a consistent narrative flow. Additionally, some aspects of the plot development could have been expanded to provide a more comprehensive exploration of the characters' inner struggles and emotional journeys.

In conclusion, The Other Mrs. Samson is a compelling and emotionally resonant read that delves into the complexities of love, sacrifice, and the enduring bonds that transcend time and circumstance. Ralph Webster's masterful storytelling and the rich tapestry of historical events make this a must-read for anyone seeking a captivating exploration of the human experience and the enduring power of love across generations.

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. What a different type novel. Drama/mystery. Recommend

The premise to the story sounded really interesting because it tells of two women worlds apart that have married the same man. The story seems to be more nonfiction than fiction. The chapters are very disjointed and incoherent. The story also keeps jumping through different timelines that made it hard to keep track. Overall, this novel had potential, but it was hard to follow.

Historical fiction is my favorite genre and I was excited to start reading this book. It did not disappoint in that regard as I learned a lot from that time period that I didn't know. I was disappointed, though, because it was missing the character development that would make me fall in love with the characters and share their happiness and/or grief. I wanted the Author's Notes to let me know if these were indeed actual people and if they followed the same journeys depicted in the book.

A good read about a German Jewish Doctor and his life before, during and after WWII , as told by his "second wife". It was a bit convoluted with all the characters as the story unfolds throughout the years. However, as readers we learn how the war takes it toll on everyday life, no matter what one's station is. The ending was a bit of a stretch and tried to tie the title into the story with a twist. Disappointing!

Thank you to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book.
I wish it hadn't taken me so long to getting around to read this one because I would've done it much sooner. I enjoyed the rich friendship crafted by Webster. He really captured the bond between women. The author also did quite a bit of research when it came to the historical elements. I'd recommend this to my historical fiction loving friends. All praise aside, I didn't love the ending. It could've been written with a different outcome.

I love that this book was inspired by the contents of a Japanese Bureau. Documents had lain untouched, capable of opening up a broad sweep of history through the eyes of two women. Both Hilda and Kate were once married to Mr Samson, a German Jew. Their story takes us across the early 20th Century, and two continents as well as two world wars.
I admired the ambition of the author in knitting together historical fact and fiction. At first we flit across the ‘noughties’ via 1995 and 1970. This was a little bitty, but I felt at ease that all would become clear because the narrative felt confident and self assured. Katie takes up more of the novel and it’s clear how much she loves Mr Sansom and he seems very vivid in her sections of the book. They seem closer as a couple and we learn much more about his daily habits. With Hilda, probably due to the earlier timeline of this relationship, he seems a bit buttoned up, more remote and separate from her. However, Hilda has a self-awareness that’s possibly ahead of its time. She’s frank about the family wealth and her spoiled corner of it and still I admired the determination behind this family’s rise in fortunes. However, we know that Nazi German is on the horizon and our sense of foreboding is heightened. I enjoyed the peripheral characters and the historical details used. The twist was unexpected but shed greater light on the title. This was a sweeping drama covering a turbulent period in history and I enjoyed and appreciated the work that went into it.

This story begins in current day when a Black Lacquered Cabinet in inherited from an old friend. Old letters are found in a hidden compartment in the Cabinet. The story goes back to the turn of the Century to tell the stories of 2 woman that had been married to Joseph Samson. Hilde was a wealthy young Jewish woman from San Francisco. She and Joseph lived in Germany during the war. Katie was a young German girl that had lived a hard life of tragedy and losing family members at an early age. Katie met Joseph when she was working as a caregiver for his wealthy mother. Joseph's wife had died many years before he met Katie. He was 30 years old than Katie but the age difference didn't seem to matter to them. We are given a view of how Europe changed as the war moved to various countries.as Joseph and Katie traveled each year. It finally came to a point when it was dangerous for them to be in Europe and they were fortunate to escape to America. This novel gives us insights into life in Europe during the war years. I recomend this book.

3.5 Stars

Ralph Webster's The Other Mrs Sampson is an intriguing story. But I definitely have mixed feelings regarding it.

This is the story of letters discovered that follows Josef, Hilda, and Katie. Most of this story is from Hilda and Katie's perspective, told through their letters and journal. This is mostly their stories, as they talk about love, family, and war.

Their story is full of twists and turns. Covering the gold rush in San Francisco, the aftermath of WWI, the Great Depression, WWII, and more, the history jumps off the pages.

And ultimately, the story ends with a surprising revelation. It leaves the reader with a "well darn!" kind of feeling.

I enjoy the story as a whole, and like the ending, but I am left with wanting more. Of what? I don't know. I just know I found myself distracted at times. At some parts, I was completely riveted. Others found me with my thoughts drifting. I can't put my finger on it, but some parts are definitely more interesting than others.

Overall, The Other Mrs Samson is an entertaining read. Ralph Webster includes a huge taste of history in this tale which I definitely appreciate. It's easy to read, but I don't know who I would recommend it to.

The synopsis caught my attention. The introduction and very first chapters of the book had me intrigued. The historical details of Hilda's privileged life in San Francisco were interesting though a little sleepy. The story picked up after Josef and Hilda married and lived in Berlin. The second half of the book is Katie's story and life with Josef. I felt like it focused too much, in my opinion, around the war. The end caught my attention again when Josef and Katie settle in NYC. It was a good historical fiction book, but it felt like 2 different books.

This is a story of the lives of two Jewish women, connected by their love for Josef Samson, and is set in the first half of the 20th Century. I found the narrative set in turn of century San Francisco very compelling, I don't know much about it so the origins of the city , the gold rush, the lives of early settlers- that was a very new setting to me, and I enjoyed reading about it. The rest of the book takes in the build up to World War 1 ,and World War 2, and while that was compelling, I've read better fiction set in the time period. The voices of both women, Hilda and Katie, are very compelling and they're both fascinating, well-etched characters, to the extent that I'm not too sure what they see in Josef! I would recommend this book for anyone with even a passing interest in 20th Century European history though, good writing and doesn't flag.
#TheOtherMrsSamson #NetGalley

The Other Mrs. Samson is very interesting and well written historical novel until the ending. I got totally swept up in the narrative and was keen to read what was to happen next. I enjoyed the history, clearly the author has done their research and the development of characters was brilliant. The only issue I had with this was the ending, it felt a bit hurried and honestly didn’t fit in with the rest of an otherwise excellent book. I hope the author has written more, I shall look out for his work.

⭐⭐⭐💫 (rounding up for ratings)

Let's start with, from the blurb listed, that is not the book I expected. Not sure what I did expect, I guess I expected more about the uncovering of the secret. I discovered after reading this book that it was a fictionalized account of actual events. Had I known that going into the story, I might have had a different experience while reading it.

Each wife, Hilda and Katie had about half the book. Actually, 3 generations of Hilda's family had about half of the book. And Katie had the other half.

Before I wrote this review, I took a look at reviews from others on Goodreads. I don't usually. I was just having a difficult time gathering my thoughts. I can honestly say that I was surprised. The handful of reviews I did read enjoyed the 1st half much better than the second. I appear to be opposite of all of them. I felt like the first half of the book didn't have the same animation to the story telling as the second. There were 2 different narrators for most of the book. Maybe that's what the author was shooting for? Two totally different voices for the narration? I'm not sure.

And then there's the surprise. It's cleverly thrown in there. I definitely enjoyed that part.

I want to thank #NetGalley and #BooksGoSocial for the book in exchange for an honest review as always.

I really enjoyed this novel. I went into this book with little, honestly no expectation. It was not what I expected, though, I didn't have any expectations. I really enjoyed the style of writing through this book. I loved how there was a story within a story. I loved how there were different perspectives with the break of Josef's perspective in the middle to break it up. It was like reading a diary. It was interesting to read about such a tough time. It was especially interesting to read a book in the time of war, where war was something they were living through but it was not the main focus of the book. I really enjoyed this book and I am glad I got the chance to read it. I would highly recommend this book to my friends and family.

I received an e-ARC through Netgalley.
I found this to be an engaging book that kept my attention as it's told from several different POV during WWI, WWII, and present day pandemic. What do we really know about the people we interact with? This book shows us the abundance of life experiences that we know nothing about from our friends and family. The other sidestep in the book is a bit of plot twist towards the end that was unnecessary and didn't add anything to the book as it's mentioned and dropped pretty quickly. If that had been explored more, it could've changed the entire course of the book. Perhaps the author will write a follow-up book from the POV of that other person in the future.

Think of Neapolitan ice cream. Written with such clarity and passion, this captivating story is a history lesson, love story and gripping memoir all in one! I particularly enjoyed Katie's side of the story, as I am in an age gap relationship myself. I completely understood her to need to keep her relationship with Josef a secret at first. Ralph Webster is a writer of immense skill and talent. I would highly recommend this book to everyone.

A heart warming saga, based on real life events and characters, spanning decades and two wars.
The other Mrs Samson starts when a hidden compartment in a black lacquer cabinet left in an attic reveals the secrets of two incredible women: Hilda, born and raised in one of the wealthiest Jewish families in turn-of-the-century San Francisco, and Katie, whose early life in Germany is marked by tragedy and death. Their lives are forever entwined by their love of the same man, the brilliant and compassionate Dr. Josef Samson.

From the earliest, rough-and-tumble days of San Francisco, through the devastation of the Great War in Berlin and the terrors of Vichy France, and then to a new yet uncertain life in New York City, their stories span the most tumultuous events of the twentieth century. In the end, one of these women will complete the life of the other and make a startling discovery about the husband they share.

Written in the form of letters, discovered years later, the story tugs your heart at the love, hope and human tenacity through years of war and trouble. But a question remains..Can you truly, wholly know a person even if you've been with them for decades? A beautiful read..thanks for the ARC netgalley!!

I struggled with this book. It begins as a memoir and then transitions to a based on real people historical fiction. The flipping of genre made it difficult for me to focus on the story and all that was going on. I wish he had stuck to one genre as I feel that would have made the story flow much better.

I'm a big fan of historical fiction so I knew I would like this one. The narrative was really well written and I really enjoyed this book, but I did find it confusing how she didn't clue in to the other wife? Would recommend to others but still feel like it wasn't realistic in some senses. Curious to check out if Webster has other books I can add to my tbr.

I found this concept very interesting, the writing was a bit slower paced at times. The ideas were really neat and I loved the time period and subject matter covered. The historical aspects were the strongest I felt, and I loved seeing the different settings involved.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.